State deals blow to zero-emission vehicle supporters
The Air Resources Board substantially reduces the number of clean-air cars that big automakers will be required to sell in the next few years.
Disappointing environmentalists, California's Air Resources Board voted today to substantially reduce the number of emission-free vehicles carmakers will be required to sell in the state in the next few years.
But in a move that could in the long term lead to the production of many more so-called clean vehicles, the board adopted a motion to overhaul its entire Zero Emission Vehicle program to conform to tougher greenhouse-gas emission standards enacted in California in recent years. The overhaul, though, won't happen until the end of next year at the earliest.
Under the new standards, approved unanimously after six hours of public comment, the board voted to require the largest companies selling cars in the state to produce 7,500 electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles for sale, lease or loan in California from 2012 to 2014 -- down from 25,000 required in the previous regulations.
Zero-emission vehicles: An article in the Business section on Friday said VantagePoint Venture Partners was an investor in plug-in hybrid carmaker Fisker Automotive. VantagePoint is an investor in electric carmaker Tesla Motors.
In addition, they will be called upon to market about 58,000 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in the same period, fewer than the 75,000 called for in a staff proposal.
Environmentalists and transportation activists denounced the board's decision, calling it a victory for carmakers, which had lobbied vigorously against the mandates.
"It's a huge blow," said Chelsea Sexton, executive director of Plug-in America, a transportation advocacy group based in California. "They sent the message to the carmakers that they can always get what they want from the board."
Automakers, though, were reserved.
"We're going to have to take some time and study it," Ford Motor Co. spokeswoman Jennifer Moore said. "The question is still what technology is ready and what is going to be commercially viable."
Ford is one of six automakers -- along with General Motors Corp., Toyota Motor Corp., Chrysler, Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. -- subject to the mandates.
Throughout the meeting, air board Chairwoman Mary Nichols expressed desire to increase the number of emission-free vehicles on California's roads.
"Everything is interpreted as a signal. I'm just hoping that by 2014, we'll have our new revised program in place," Nichols said. "The auto companies need to understand that this is not just a collaborative effort we're involved in with them, it's really a serious push to transform their fleets."
The vote was preceded by a long day of commentary from representatives of the major automakers, environmental and transportation activists and interested private citizens.
